Ivo Kouwenhoven

Battle Of Life

Kidney problems caused Maarten den Boer (Netherlands) to struggle with life and himself at a young age. Dialysis? Home dialysis? Accept a kidney from family? It became an emotional battle of principles, self-esteem and a battle in which others also became involved. After 5 years of dialysis and home dialysis, Maarten underwent a kidney transplant on November 14, 1984. Maarten is grateful to many people who were by his side to face his 'battle of life' such as his mother who was always there for him during the five hours of home dialysis three times a week, and the one who donated his kidney after his death. On November 14, Maarten celebrates his second birthday every year. I played in the band with Maarten and we became friends. In 2019, 35 years after his kidney transplant, he asked me to write a composition for him, 'Battle of Life'.